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President Jacob Zuma's son, Edward Zuma, has opened a criminal case against billionaire businessman Johann Rupert.

Zuma wants the Nkandla police to investigate a case of state capture by Rupert. He accuses Rupert to have used financial influence to capture the state pre and post 1994.

Earlier, some media houses reported that Rupert allegedly had a meeting with Absa Group CEO Maria Ramos, former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel and some senior ANC members - including Deputy-President Cyril Ramaphosa.

It's alleged that Rupert wanted the reversal of the appointment of David Van Rooyen as Finance Minister and the subsequent
appointment of Pravin Gordhan.

Ramaphosa has however denied meeting Rupert. "Deputy President Ramaphosa categorically denies ever having such a meeting with Johan Rupert, Trevor Manuel, and Maria Ramos or any other business persons to discuss Cabinet appointments," says a statement from Ramaphosa’s office.

"The only time Deputy President Ramaphosa engaged himself with the matter of the finance ministry was during the meeting of the top six African National Congress officials with President Jacob Zuma on the Sunday leading to the appointment of Pravin Gordhan as the finance minister."

Therefore, says the statement, the suggestion that Ramaphosa met Rupert, Manuel, and Ramos to reverse decisions of the president on the finance ministry was "wholly incorrect, mischievous, and misleading".

"Accordingly, it is unfortunate that those who peddled these falsehoods did not find it within their obligation to verify the facts with the office of the deputy president before setting on publishing the story.

"It is our conviction that those who published these untruths will find it within their conviction to place correct facts at the disposal of the public."

Meanwhile, North West Premier and ANC provincial chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo, has added his voice to the issue.

Mahumapelo has called on Rupert to apologise to President Zuma and the ANC.

"What Mr Rupert must do is to go and ask for a meeting with President Jacob Zuma to apologise to President Zuma. He must go and meet with the ANC, and apologise to the ANC and the people of South Africa, because he has no right to call for a President who is democratically elected... for that President to be removed from his position. He has no authority, moral authority to call for the downfall of President Jacob Zuma." –Additional reporting by ANA